Company's coming!

It's been many months since I last updated my blog.  But I'm back now and with your encouragement (and God's help) I'll continue with my stories of happenings at and through Abounding Grace!

The most important thing is Tonight is the First night we have company seeking shelter out of the cold and wet winter weather.  My first thought as I typed this was of Mary and Joseph so many, many years ago looking for shelter for the night far away in another place.  But that story is for another time!  Anyway, tonight at Abounding Grace our guests will be just 6 men needing a safe, warm place to sleep.  With the help of our friends at the Salvation Army, these men will be transported to our Fellowship Hall.  There they will each help gather a cot, blankets, & pillow to arrange a sleeping area in one end of that great room.  Near the kitchen tables & chairs are set for a hot meal to warm our travelers.  Volunteers from our church or from Fountain of Life, bring or prepare the dinner on site.  Hot coffee, tea or cocoa is available.  A prayer before the meal is expected and when asked, one of our guests are usually more than happy to lead the grace!  After serving dinner, our helpers then grab a plate and join our guests for a bit of table conversation and to make our new friends feel at home.  When the table is cleared it's time for more chatting and a movie is started.  Some of our guests are so tired, they can't wait to curl up in the blankets and fall right to sleep.  A couple of church volunteers stay the night to make sure all is well and be there if any assistance is needed.  In the morning, our guests are greeted with a hot breakfast delivered or prepare by other volunteers.  Everyone helps to put away the bedding and soon it's time for the Salvation Army van to arrive and pick up our new friends.  But before they leave each man will receive a sack lunch prepared with love by... you guessed it, MORE volunteers!  Some times we have more volunteers than guests!  That's okay though, because didn't Jesus ask us to love even the poor, the homeless, and the lost.  By opening our doors to offer food and shelter to those in need of even a smidgen of His love may be just what they need to give them hope.  Together we plant a small seed of faith.  Then step back and let God work his miracles.

Peace be with you!
Grace Anne Love

Soup Supper: Are you being Served?

There's been a lot happening in the Fellowship Hall lately. On Wednesday nights a group of hungry people are gathering around 6 p.m. I say they're hungry because some of them bring in these delicious smelling soups to share with all the others.

Everyone is having a great time talking and laughing and eating... they call it fellowship. It's been going on for the past 2 weeks now and the variety of soups is mind boggling! Most everyone tries more than one soup and they have so much that no one goes away hungry.

In fact, there's usually plenty of soup and bread leftover. Then faster than a mouse with a broom looming over his head, they clean up the kitchen, put away the tables and chairs and head over to the Sanctuary to have more time together.

Once there, they sing songs, listen to a bible reading and Pastor Keith tells us all a great story. If you haven't listened to Pastor Keith tell stories, you don't know what you're missing!

Why he tells a story about this man called Jonah and how Jonah tried to run away from God! How anyone could think they can hide from God is just... just... just.... so unbelievable! Well, you can check that story out yourself in the Bible. Better yet, come by Wednesday night at 6 p.m. for a bowl of piping hot soup and then stay to listen as Pastor Keith tells us more of Jonah's adventure. It's one whale of a fish story! Until next time...

God Bless you with His Abounding Love!

Grace Anne Love